//------------------------------// // Endgame, Part I // Story: Spiders and Magic: Rise of Spider-Mane // by Maximus_Reborn //------------------------------// Chapter Fifty-Seven "Endgame, Part I of IV" Five Days Remain until the portal closes... "So you've come, like moths to the flame,"Osborn's voice murmured through the walls of the castle. Spider-Man shrugged. "Do youeversay anything original?" Shimmer huffed. "I have to agree. That line is seriously cliché." "I was expecting you. Do not think I was not aware of your plan. I knew you were hidden within the Sanctum Sanctorum. Quite frankly, I did not care. You are all insects compared to what I have become. I have finally transcended. I have become what I was destined to be: omnipotent." Norman chuckled lowly before pillars materialized near the group's position, creating a flight of stairs that rose to the next floor. "If the lot of you truly desire to face me, then come. I only hope you can survive what awaits. After all, the entire world will be watching you struggle." Outside of the walls of Castle Doom, images began to take form in the sky. Soon, the same thing occurred across the entire world, with a projection of Spider-Man's group filling the skies. Citizens walked out of their homes and diverted their gazes skyward, some murmuring while others exclaimed in panic. New York was no different, with a clear image of the interior of Castle Doom being displayed throughout the entire sky. Everyone within the Daily Bugle crowded the windows, each doing their best to see what was transpiring. Jameson, lost in thought, stared deeply at the photos in his hand. It was a picture of this...Taraperson, holding Spider-Man in her arms while wings sprouted from her back. He'd gone out on his own accord, heeding his reporter instincts, and took pictures of Spider-Man, a crazy flying woman, a giant dragon, and a few other vigilantes while the battle raged on. Turned out that one of the new vigilantes in town was his new boss. However, that wasn't what perturbed Jameson. In the photo he held, Spider-Man was unmasked. After all this time, he'd finally found out that the vigilante's identity was none other than Peter Parker, the photographer who disappeared years ago. Jonah rubbed the wrinkles out of his forehead, groaning. His ultimate triumph felt bittersweet, empty, and unfulfilling. All this time, the same photographer that he hired to take pictures of the masked vigilante, was right under his nose the whole time. Before Jameson could gather his thoughts, he glanced outside and blurted out an expletive as he found the shifting images in the sky. Suddenly, energy fields materialized all around the world, surrounding every city and base. "I know about the United Nations' plan to launch nuclear missiles at my castle. I would not advise that. Should you launch a single missile at my castle…" The projection faded, morphing to a new image of a missile launch site. The control panel began to short out, electrical currents running along the surface before the machine detonated. The missiles self-destructed, the explosions engulfing everyone within the vicinity in a ball of flames. The Goblin's cackling laughter echoed across the airwaves before the image dissipated and materialized back to reveal Spider-Man's group of heroes after they had made it to the top of the stairs. They reached a pit, but stones flew into their path ahead, connecting to form a makeshift bridge. "I trust you'll make the right decision and stand down." Osborn paused, grinning maliciously. "My powers are not limited to this world, Peter."His voice declared. "Allow me to extend Equestria the privilege of watching their hope dwindle and die." Twilight's eyes shot open. "Wait. What did he just say?!" Celestia's eyes widened before she vanished from sight, materializing on the lookout point of the castle where the others were. Everypony stared at the images in the sky with their mouths agape, while others watched with bewildered gazes. Canterlot, Manehattan, Ponyville, and the Crystal Empire were privy to this spectacle. Shining Armor and Princess Cadance stammered while the ponies within the empire burst into a panic, their collective voices echoing throughout the vicinity. The image zoomed in on Spider-Man as he quietly sheathedCelsius, its energy fading as he placed the sword onto his back. Osborn huffed, prompting these images to expand throughout the skies of both worlds. "Peter Parker, or shall I call you Spider-Man?"Osborn coldly murmured, causing several individuals to release a gasp on both Earth and Equestria. "For all the good you've done, you have managed to put two worlds in danger at the same time. The people of Earth will remember you as Spider-Man, the coward who ran away, and Equestria will remember you as Spider-Mane, the outsider that brought the end of the world. What a fitting end." Sunset Shimmer shook her head, scowling. "Is this bastard serious?" Twilight gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. "How far are you willing to go?!" Princess Luna scoffed, closing her eyes. "It seems he's determined to ruin Spider-Man thoroughly. This man… is beyond reason." The Green Goblin continued to laugh as images of Peter in his human form and pony shape flashed throughout the sky, alternating between his social life and his heroic one. "How pathetic. You try to blend in with these… ponies in some desperate attempt to live a normal life. Peter. Accept it. You are a freak, an outsider gifted with extraordinary powers. From what I've seen, you could take over that world. Had you any sense, you would have long ago. Are you afraid, Parker? Afraid they'll shun you if they ever learned the truth? Well, the truth is out there now. Equestria will soon hate you just like those on Earth did. Why fight on their behalf? No matter how hard you fight, they'll eventually turn against you. It's as the old saying goes. You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Spike's eyes narrowed. "Why is he doing this?" Felicia frowned, folding her arms. "Out of spite. He wants everyone to turn against Spidey. That kind of fear and paranoia? Lord only knows how those on your world will react. They may not be able to fully trust him again." "Allow me to end it all and start anew. In my new world order, such prejudice will no longer exist. My rule will be all that matters." Wolverine snarled, freeing his claws from his knuckles. "I'm sick of hearing this garbage." The group entered a new room, a wall appearing behind their position and sealing it shut. Mechanical beings began to walk out of the rooms, their golden models resembling Tony Stark's Iron Man suit. As the army of robots' numbers increased, each hero in the group took a defensive stance with the exception of Spider-Man. He stood with his gaze fixed on the ground, never lifting it even as the robots dashed towards his position. However, a trail of blue energy cut through the air, leaving the mechanical creations to fall to the ground in two halves once they ventured too close. Spider-Man clutchedCelsius, holding the saber with one hand. "Osborn…" Peter paused, sharing a glance with Twilight and Luna. Both women smirked, nodding their approval, and Spider-Man scoffed, placing both hands on the handle ofCelsiusbefore sprinting forward at full speed. "Bite me!" Twilight vanished in a flash of light, and Luna held her ground, unleashing several bolts of energy as the enemies advanced. Spider-Man hopped into the air where five mock Iron Men waited for him. He spun in midair, narrowly avoiding the punch thrown by the first robot, and shot a strand of webbing directly over his own head, pulling himself over the beams of energy that the other four emitted out of their chests. In one wide slash, Spider-Man sliced through the machines before they could recover. Luna continued her assault, firing bolts of energy from her hands, and each attack met its mark, piercing through the chestplates of each droid in their path. Twilight materialized with her back against Sunset Shimmer's, and both girls fought together cohesively, firing beams of energy in opposite directions. A robot landed inches in front of Twilight, but Shimmer spun around, hopping over the princess before delivering a stiff kick to its head. Another droid threw a wide punch, its hand nearing Sunset's face, but Twilight used her telekinesis to stop its attack instantly, tossing it into a group of others. Shimmer thrust her foot through a robot's gut, and Twilight placed the palm of her hand against the chest of the nearest droid, magic sending the machine flying through a wall. Both girls shared a glance, nodding before running in separate directions. Wolverine blocked one of the robot's attacks, slamming his fist into its head before lunging across the room and tackling another droid to the ground. Logan turned his head, exhaling as he sniffed the air. "Ah, hell." His masked eyes widened as the large double door on the other side of the room slowly began to open, creaking protestingly. "Black Cat! Watch the door!" Felicia raised her head, only for the door to break and fly off its hinges. The woman hopped away from its path, managing to avoid being crushed. A trail of heavy footsteps sent small tremors through the ground, forcing Black Cat to lower into a pouncing position. Suddenly, a large man with metallic skin sprinted into the room, roaring before throwing a wide punch at the woman. She flipped into the air as the man's fist shattered the ground, sending shards of concrete flying about. Black Cat landed safely several yards away, narrowly swaying her upper body out of the path of a large crimson beam of energy as it sped through the area and destroyed the nearest wall. Felicia furrowed her brow at the source, finding a man with a golden visor over his eyes standing next to a woman wielding a pink blade of energy in her right hand. Hovering over their position was a beautiful woman with snow-white hair, the wind lifting her frame from the ground. "Wolverine! Some of your 'friends' are here!" Black Cat yelled, ducking underneath a second optic blast. The X-Men scattered, joining the fray. Psylocke sprinted toward Black Cat, thrusting her psionic blade once she was within range, but the ninja was stopped in her tracks, thanks to Shimmer's telekinesis. Psylocke's free hand glowed with energy before she lashed out and threw an array of psionic spikes toward Sunset, forcing the girl to release her magical grip and vanish out of harm's way. Black Cat threw a punch, only for Psylocke to capture her arm and lock it in a hold, bending it behind her elbow. The ninja reared her psionic blade back, ready to drive it through Felicia's chest, but Shimmer materialized inches behind Black Cat, pressed her hands against her back, and they both disappeared before Psylocke's attack could connect. The woman searched around aimlessly, desperate to find her foes, when a pair of legs wrapped around her head, cutting off any line of sight. Felicia spun, shifting her momentum to the ground before flipping Psylocke across the room. Sunset appeared in a flash of light directly in the X-Man's path. Clenching her glowing hand into a fist, Shimmer punched the air, and fissures spread out, generating a shockwave. Psylocke's body contorted before it was launched into a stone wall, and she collapsed, the energy of her psionic blade dissipating. Spike landed on the ground, roaring as flames began to build within his mouth. He watched as Wolverine ducked underneath one of Colossus's slow strikes. Spider-Man extended his hands and fired an array of webbing onto the metal man, the gossamer expanding on impact. Colossus clutched at the webbing, ripping each strand away in rapid succession, but before he could completely free himself, Spike opened his mouth, setting everything in his path ablaze. Colossus raised an arm over his face and stomped his way through the flames to reach the dragon. "Spike! Get back!" Spider-Man yelled, prompting the dragon to cease his attack and leap away from combat. Colossus huffed before slamming the palms of his hands together, generating a shockwave potent enough to quell a majority of the surrounding flames. Spider-Man shared a glance with Wolverine. "Let's give this guy a taste of his own medicine." Logan nodded before Spider-Man shot a strand of webbing onto his back. Peter spun in place, never releasing his thread, and their speed increased dramatically, their images matching a spinning propeller blade. Planting his feet, Spider-Man released his webbing, and Wolverine soared through the air with his claws extended, slamming into Colossus with the force of a missile. Their momentum carried both men several yards, bursting through a stone wall before careening over an edge and into an enormous living room. Spider-Man landed on a rail above their position, sighing once Wolverine pulled himself from Colossus's prone body and forced himself to a standing position. "I hope Colossus won't sue me for using his fastball special," Spider-Man weakly chuckled. Wolverine stretched his neck to the side until a set of cracks were heard. "This'll be our little secret, bub." Spider-Man hummed once Logan reached his side. "Hey. When Colossus comes to, let's get him to say 'Get Moose and Squirrel." Wolverine growled. "Shut up." Elsewhere, Cyclops fired an optic blast. At this, Twilight shot a beam of magical energy, causing both attacks to cancel each other out. Storm pointed her finger at Luna before clouds materialized near the ceiling of the room, sending knife-like shards of hail flying towards her foe, but the princess raised her hand, causing the stones on the floor to rise and act as a shield. However, the stones began to crack, forcing Luna to vanish from sight the moment her defense fell. Twilight's eyes widened at the trail of thoughts that entered her mind, but she quickly nodded, returning her stern gaze to Cyclops. The X-Man unleashed a crimson beam from his visor. Anticipating the attack, Twilight raised her glowing hands and threw them to the side, causing Scott's attack to sway past her position. Twilight guided the beam of energy across the room until it slammed into Storm's back, sending Ororo crashing to the ground. Before Cyclops could react, a large spark of electricity rushed through his body, and the X-Man collapsed at Luna's feet. Sunset Shimmer, alongside Felicia, materialized next to both of the princesses while Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Spike approached. Without as much of a word, the group rushed to the nearest door and kicked it open, climbing a seemingly endless flight of stairs, all while dismantling any robots that crossed their path. Princess Celestia walked through the courtyard, keeping her light violet gaze fixed on the projection in the sky. She could only imagine how the rest of Equestria was reacting to the situation. The panicked cries of the citizens around Canterlot were enough of an indication for the alicorn to assume the worst-case scenario. Celestia cursed under her breath. Norman Osborn's vendetta with Peter was immensely personal, but she never thought he would stoop so low to attempt tarnishing a child's building reputation. The people of Earth had already questioned Spider-Man. Knowing he would never return would probably harm his reputation further. However, what concerned Princess Celestia more were the inhabitants of Equestria. Peter had worked exponentially hard to earn his place as a friend, knight, and prince of the kingdom, but he was an outworlder. The trust he earned from everypony was in jeopardy of being tarnished. She prayed that everypony would open their hearts and accept Peter in spite of his alien background. Unfortunately, Osborn may have implanted the seeds of chaos and doubt into their minds. Peter was indeed powerful, managing to defeat King Sombra, Luna, and herself. He was only beginning to unlock his potential as a unicorn, in regards to magic and his physical capabilities. That wasn't mentioning the fact that he was an alicorn in the making. Sadly, if Peter were to ever lose his way, it was questionable on who could stand against him besides her own student. Celestia shook her head. Ponies feared what they did not understand. "Princess Celestia!" Rainbow Dash called out, freeing the alicorn from her self-induced trance. The pegasus flew over to her position, pointing at the images in the sky. "What are we supposed to do? Just sit by and watch?!" Celestia shook her head and sighed. "I am afraid so. I do not like the decision any more than you do, but we must have faith in Twilight." Dismayed, the alicorn glanced off to the side. 'I fear what rises on the horizon. Peter will need you more than ever, Twilight.' The night sky was clear, a full moon shining bright amidst the dark blanket. Days remained until the fight with Osborn was to commence, yet so much of everything else plagued the confines of Peter's mind: the progression of his Spider Armor, the news regarding his eternal youth, his approaching parenthood, and the beautiful woman in his arms. Peter blinked, freeing himself from his self-induced trance. Twilight's face stood a couple of inches away from his, her lips curled into a perfect smile underneath a pair of rosey cheeks. Peter found himself lost in the violet sea that was her gaze, his face burning as a result. Twilight slid her arms around the young man's back, prompting Peter to place his hands over the girl's hips. They were practically the same height now. For Peter, it was perfect. His breathing grew shallow, Twilight's lovely scent filling his senses. The princess was so close that he could kiss her, and Parker wanted to, in the worst way. Yet his mind called out, reminding him that there was something significantly important to tell his lover. Peter opened his mouth, ready to speak the truth, but Twilight brought a finger over his lips, shaking her head. "Please… let's just enjoy this moment," Twilight softly pleaded, resting her forehead against Peter's. Their lips met, holding together for several moments before eventually parting. Twilight continued to stare deeply into Peter's hazel eyes, her smile never faltering. "I love you." Peter's eyes softened as he simply nodded, replying with a soft kiss instead of words. Twilight wanted to enjoy the peace, this tranquility where the sound of Peter's heart spoke volumes to her. The young man shook his head, pulling his lover closer until the side of his head rested against hers. He inhaled deeply, basking in the lush violet scent of her hair. Peter knew he should have just told Twilight the news about his eternal youth, but he would respect her wishes, holding his silence for the night. Once they returned to Equestria, Peter promised himself that he would talk to Twilight. 'I certainly wished you consulted with Twilight sooner about that matter,'Luna's voice coolly injected in the depths of Peter's mind. Peter exhaled, thankful his helmet concealed his facial features. Otherwise, everyone could have easily seen his exasperation. 'I know. I wish I did too. Prioritization has never been a strength of mine.' Luna's expression was as stoic as ever, but Peter saw the gleam in her cold, blue irises. 'Perhaps. Just make certain you keep your vow and consult with Twilight once we return to Equestria. Otherwise...' Peter chuckled, patting Luna's shoulder before stepping ahead. 'Duly noted.' Spider-Man skidded to a halt. The room he'd just entered was a peculiar one. Once the rest of the group entered, the door slammed shut behind them, and a barrier materialized over the exit and the entrance on the other side of the room. A platform hovered over the center of the area above a bottomless pit. Large marble statues of the Green Goblin stood on the walls near the platform, each nearly as tall as Spike himself. An individual waited onboard the platform, their image masked in shadow. Spider-Man paused, inhaling as he honed his senses. The image of the individual cleared within Peter's mind, causing the young man to exhale. "I see who's ahead. It's better if I go alone," he murmured, removingCelsiusand its scabbard from his back. "Mind holding this for me, Luna?" The princess simply nodded, using her magic to create a strap before placingCelsiusaround her shoulder. Spider-Man took a few steps, pausing once Twilight took a hold of his hand. "Hey. I'll be fine." Twilight furrowed her brow, alternating her gaze between Spider-Man and the platform. "You know it's a trap." Spider-Man wrapped his arm around Twilight's shoulders, lowering his mouth until it was inches from her ear. "Of course it is, but the platform won't hold our whole group. Besides, I have the sixth sense for danger. I'll know what's coming." Frowning, the princess couldn't hide the concern from her violet gaze, but she nodded, letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine, but if things get bad, I'm jumping in. Got it?" Spider-Man chuckled, patting the top of Twilight's head. They were nearly the same height now with only an inch of difference. "I wouldn't expect any less from you, babe, but I won't need help for this. I'm not holding back this time." A trail of stones flew into place and created a makeshift bridge. Peter and Twilight shared a glance before the young man walked across the chasm and reached the platform. The stones fell into the abyss after a few moments, and Spider-Man scoffed, lowering his body into a defensive stance. "I never thought I'd have to fight you like this… Tony." "Don't you mean 'Earth's Mightiest Avenger?" a coy voice called out before a man in a suit of gold and crimson armor stepped into the light. Iron Man's face mask slid back, revealing Tony's grin with his cold, yellow irises. "Nice armor. Not as cool as mine, but it's good for you. I always knew you were a top-notch genius, Peter." His mask fell back into place as he raised his hand, energy building within his palm. "Just back off, Spider-Man. This suit knows your next move before you do." Spider-Man pointed his thumb at his chest. "Does it? Try me, shellhead!" Iron Man unleashed a beam of energy, but Spider-Man swayed his upper body to the side, dodging the projectile. Missiles rose from Tony's shoulders before launching, scattering around Peter's position. Each honed in with immense precision, narrowly missing Spider-Man's form as he maneuvered past each explosion, but a dozen more missiles approached from multiple angles. Detonating simultaneously, a shockwave erupted at the center of the platform, and flames ignited, triggering an explosion. Iron Man stood over the flames, but he couldn't react as one of the marble statues soared through the air and crashed into the Avenger, burying his frame underneath piles of broken stone. Tony freed himself from the debris, groaning. "Where did that…?" Spider-Man landed near Iron Man's position, perching himself on one of the stones in a squatting position. "Didn't seethatone coming, did you?" The moment Iron Man made it to his feet, a fierce blow staggered him. Tony glanced around aimlessly, unable to react as a series of strikes ran across his back and knocked him to the ground. Iron Man took flight, elevating a few feet, but Spider-Man hopped above his position, delivering a spinning kick across his face. Tony bounced off the ground, shattering the stone. Peter landed gracefully on his feet and sped into a dash, his form disappearing in a blur. Iron Man raised his hands at his moving target. However, Spider-Man snatched Tony's wrists, directing his blast into his own face in a flash. "Hey!" Tony blurted out, the beam leaving his mask scorched. Spider-Man lifted Iron Man by his hands and threw him across the platform. "Does the phrase 'stop hitting yourself' ring a bell?" Iron Man forced his way to a standing position, firing haphazardly at positions on the platform, yet for each missed shot, Spider-Man countered with a fierce punch, each strike leaving a dent in Tony's armor. Sunset Shimmer watched the spectacle, slack-jawed as her eyes failed to follow Spider-Man's movements. "Holy crap. Am I losing my mind, or is Parker moving really fast?" Black Cat's stunned expression matched Shimmer's. "I don't remember Spidey being able to move like that." Sunset furrowed her brow, recoiling as Iron Man's armor began to unravel. "Is he using magic to enhance his speed?" Twilight shook her head, her gaze never averting from the platform. "No. This is Spider-Man's natural speed. It's how he was able to wear down Princess Celestia during their duel." Behind her glowing violet irises, she was able to watch what was transpiring. The outer world around Twilight slowed, and the princess watched as Spider-Man sprinted around Iron Man, driving his fist into his opponent's armor until it began to dent and break apart. He skidded to a halt, prompting Twilight to end her spell and blink. "Peter's about to end it." Spider-Man dove into Iron Man, tackling him to the ground. As Tony reached out, Peter grabbed his arm, planting his foot against his chest, and ripped the metal from Iron Man's limb. Spider-Man punched the chestplate and dug his fingers deep into the metal before prying it from the man's body. Peter grabbed Tony's mask with one hand and squeezed it until its hold gave away. Spider-Man tossed it to the side while Tony stared at the young man with his eyes wide. "I… never thought you were this strong," he murmured honestly. Spider-Man shrugged. "Neither did I." Peter curled his finger underneath his thumb, holding it against Tony's forehead before letting go. What appeared as a simple flick proved to be quite the contrary for the Avenger, the 'pop' resembling the sound of a gunshot. The force of the blow knocked Tony's head back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head while a crimson swelling took form on his skin. Spider-Man dusted his hands off, sighing as the path to the next room cleared, and the bridge connecting to the platform materialized back into existence. Twilight patted his back reassuringly. Peter folded his arms, saying, "You know what we call that? We call that a web-slinging ass-kicking!" "Where is our daughter?!" Night Light shouted, earning the collective gazes of everypony on the lookout. Twilight Velvet followed her husband, a look of concern in her eyes. Night Light shifted his gaze skyward, gritting his teeth at the image of Spider-Man. "Does she know about this?!" Princess Celestia materialized a few hoof-lengths from the couple's position in a flash of light. "Twilight Sparkle is safe, Night Light. She is with Peter at this moment, fighting for the sake of our world." As the group traveled through the castle, Nightlight settled his gaze on the bipedal creature running closely behind Spider-Man, her violet and pink mane bearing a striking resemblance to that of his daughter's. Celestia cleared her throat. "Her form has been altered to fit the beings of Earth." Night Light arched a brow. "Is it true? Is Peter truly not from this world?" After Princess Celestia nodded, the stallion shook his head. "Were you aware of this the entire time? My daughter can't get involved with an alien! It's-" Twilight Velvet turned, interrupting her husband. "Night Light, stop it." Her stern gaze softened. "Whether Peter is from our world or not, that doesn't matter. It's obvious that Twilight is aware of his background. If it doesn't bother our daughter, then why should it bother us? I only want Twilight to be happy, and Peter is doing a fine job of that. Maybe you should-?" Night Light turned sharply on his hoof. "What about everypony else, Velvet? I don't want you to think I don't like Peter. I… really like him. He's an ideal match for our daughter, but..." He began to trot away, pausing before resuming. "Now thateveryponyknows the truth, do you think they'll want Twilight to be happy?" Twilight Velvet's eyes widened at the statement. "That's…." All words left the mare as she watched her husband exit the premises. Letting out a saddened sigh, Twilight Velvet turned to Celestia with somberness filling her violet gaze. "What's going to happen now, Princess Celestia?" Celestia shook her head, uncertain. "I do not know. For now, I only want everypony to focus on Twilight and the others surviving this encounter." The alicorn glanced off to the side. "However, I'm afraid the fallout of this situation could prove more damaging than any physical scars they may endure from the battle itself." Celestia frowned. "Be strong, Twilight." The group entered the next floor after climbing another flight of stairs, only to be swarmed by dozens of Osborn's Iron Man replicas. Sunset Shimmer, Princess Luna, and Twilight used their combined magic to conjure a shield against the robots' array of missile and laser fire. Black Cat, Wolverine, and Spike stood by the women should their defenses fall, and Peter sat on a knee behind Twilight, tapping feverishly against a pad built into his wrist gauntlet. A few of the droids dropped to the ground, proceeding to punch the shield with heavy strikes. Sunset Shimmer snarled, using her magic to remove cracks that surfaced on the shield. "Geez! How many of these things do we have to send to the scrapyard before they get the hint?!" Spike nodded. "No kidding. They just keep coming!" "Then, it's a good thing we're working on a Plan B," Twilight declared as she snapped her fingers, triggering a shockwave from the shield's exterior. The force sent a majority of the robots flying to the ground, but they all quickly recovered, each sticking its chest out as energy began to draw into them. Twilight scoffed a response before stealing a glance at Spider-Man out of the corner of her eye. "Peter? Clock's ticking." Peter continued to type into his gauntlet. "Almost got it, babe." The screen on the device shone brightly, prompting Peter to close it and extend his hand out. Suddenly, each robot in the vicinity stopped in its tracks, some limply falling from the air. The center of their chestplates erupted in a burst of electricity, leaving the once robust army of droids reduced to lifeless heaps of metal. Spider-Man chuckled confidently. "There. I doubt Osborn put a warranty on these guys." All three women shared a glance before lowering their shield. Luna nodded, smiling as she placed a hand on Spider-Man's shoulder. "Excellent work, my friend." Shimmer arched a brow. "How'd you do that?" Peter tapped the side of his gauntlet. "Electric counter shock. Thanks to the frequency generator I…borrowedfrom Tony's Iron Man suit, I was able to send out an electrical current through all frequencies sharing the same radio waves and fried every circuit within a ten-mile radius." Clearing his throat, Spider-Man kicked the nearest droid's head off its shoulders. "Basically, I short-circuited every robot in the castle and then some. We'll have an easier time reaching Osborn now." Wolverine sniffed the air, groaning as a disgruntled expression formed on his face. "Uh... We got a hell of a roadblock coming our way." "Huh? Who can it-?" Spider-Man began to question before the sound of thunder rumbled through the sky. Peter was slow to respond, turning his gaze to the door on the other side of the room. A tall individual approached, his golden locks concealing his yellow irises, and he twirled the hammer in his hand, prompting lightning to fall from the sky. Spider-Man took hold ofCelsius, groaning. "Oh, crap. Everyone stay back.Don'tengage this guy. I mean it. Twilight?" The princess peeked up, finding Peter walking forward to meet his opponent. "What is it?" Spider-Man tightened his hold onCelsius, causing the blade to glow brighter and hum. "We're going to need that contingency plan. Post haste." "I am Thor. Son of Odin. God of Thunder," the man boldly declared, tossing his hammer in Spider-Man's direction. Peter raisedCelsiusand held his forearm against the dull side of the blade, deflecting the attack. Mjolnir pressed on, pushing Spider-Man back until he managed to slow to a complete halt just a few feet from his allies. Thor extended his hand, prompting Mjolnir to fly across the room and into his grasp. Raising his hammer over his hand, thunder roared from the sky and sent tremors through the walls of the castle. Lightning rushed through the wall, destroying the stone before speeding towards Peter. Spider-Man raisedCelsiusin response and threw a slash, sending out a wave of blue energy. The attacks met in a collision, triggering a shockwave. Luna, with her arms folded, nonchalantly raised a shield around her allies as remnants of both Thor's and Spider-Man's attack fell across the vicinity. Bolts of electricity trailed across the walls, and energy from the atmosphere rushed back intoCelsius, forming the blade. Thor flew across the room, swinging Mjolnir once he was a few feet away from his foe, and Spider-Man countered with a slash, both weapons meeting for a loud, "CLANG!" The impact sent a trail of dust out. Peter flew back, managing to land on his feet before skidding to a halt. "In the name of Master Osborn, I command thee to stand down, lest I shall use mighty Mjolnir to smash your skull," Thor bellowed, raising his hammer. Spider-Man readied to move forward when a trail of thoughts entered his mind, prompting Peter to share a brief glance with Princess Luna before returning his sight to Thor. Peter began to close the distance. "Spider-Man versus Thor. I'm sure there are folks begging to see this matchup of epic proportions." However, once they were inches apart, Spider-Man sheathedCelsiusbehind his back, causing Thor to furrow his brow. A flux of energy materialized behind Peter. "Personally, I would rather watch a rematch." Spider-Man ducked, just as an enormous entity hopped out of the portal and landed inches away from Thor. Before the Asgardian could react, the green being slammed his fist into his chest, sending Thor's body careening through the nearest wall. "Hulk, Thor. Thor, Hulk. Or have you met?" Spider-Man grinned, patting the Incredible one across the back. "Thanks for the assist, big guy." Hulk stood upright, his height dwarfing Spider-Man's considerably, and he offered the young man a small smile. "No problem, Spider-Man…" he paused, shaking Peter's hand. "I owe you and Twilight. It's the least I can do." The debris near the wall Thor destroyed began to rumble, stones falling to the side. Hulk growled, stepping away from Spider-Man before walking towards the rubble. "It looks like Thor isn't done yet. I'll occupy his time. You should hurry and take out the Goblin." Spider-Man alternated his gaze between Hulk and the debris. "Are you sure?" "You're a good friend, Spider-Man," Hulk calmly stated, nodding. The group took their leave and ran through the exit. Once Twilight reached Peter's side, Hulk raised his hand slightly. "Wait. That blast you hit me with. How long will its effects last? How long… will I keep control?" Twilight's eyes softened. "Sadly, the attack I used was a substitute. It's not nearly as potent as the actual Elements of Harmony, so its effects are temporary. They'll last maybe a few days. Weeks, if you're lucky." The Hulk huffed. "So, it's only a matter of time before I lose control again. Right." Thor burst out from the underneath the rubble, sending shards of stone flying in various directions. As the Hulk cracked the bones in his knuckles, Spider-Man gave Bruce a thumbs-up before grabbing Twilight's hand and following the others. Once they were out of hearing range, Bruce grinned. "Finally…" he trailed off, roaring as Thor sprinted full speed towards him with his hammer held back. Hulk stomped forward before matching Thor's pace, his clenched fists tightening. "Now I know who to smash!" Appearing in a flash of light at the center of the lookout, Shining Armor and Cadance materialized into existence before trotting over to Princess Celestia's position. Twilight Velvet's eyes widened at the sight, and her son stepped over to embrace his mother, wrapping a hoof around her neck affectionately. Cadance took the time to rub her head against the underside of Celestia's chin, earning a content sigh from her aunt. "We came as soon as we could, Princess Celestia," Shining Armor sternly declared, bowing his head out of respect. Celestia nodded. "I am happy to see you two are safe. How are conditions in the Crystal Empire?" Shining Armor cleared his throat. "No damage to report thus far, but to say everypony is in a panic would be an understatement." Cadance shook her head and sighed. "The inhabitants of the Crystal Empire are stricken with uncertainty. I felt the emotions in their hearts. They aren't sure on how they're supposed to feel about Peter or the developing situation." Celestia's eyes softened. "It already seems the Goblin's intention is coming into fruition. The seeds of doubt have been planted. We can only wait and see whether everypony's feelings will grow into acceptance or distrust." Twilight Velvet placed her hoof over Shining's. "Unfortunately, your father has not taken the news well. He took off a few minutes ago. He's worried about how this will affect Twilight." Shining Armor inhaled deeply before exhaling. The stallion placed his hoof over his mother's shoulder. "Don't worry about Dad, Mom. It took me a while to warm up to the idea, too. I'll go talk to him later." Once Twilight Velvet weakly nodded a response, Shining returned his gaze to meet Celestia's. "Your Highness. We set up a perimeter around Discord yesterday as per your request, but we received a disturbance on our way here." Princess Celestia arched a brow. "A disturbance? Of what kind?" Shining Armor bit his lip, a concerned glare forming in his eyes. "A few minutes ago. Discord's body just… disappeared. We searched the entire perimeter for him, but we couldn't find a trace. Cadance can't even sense him right now." Cadance shifted her sight to the projection in the sky. "Considering what's going on, it might be possible that the Goblin used his powers to retrieve the body." Celestia was silent, as if contemplating her niece's response, and her expression stiffened. "That is a possibility, but I have a distinct feeling that Discord is acting on his own accord." The alicorn closed her eyes, releasing an exasperated groan. "Honestly, I'm beginning to think Discord was never captured in the first place." Cadance inhaled sharply, aghast. "Auntie! What makes you think that?!" Celestia was slow to respond, exhaling under her breath. "It is too soon to say. I just hope I'm wrong." "Congratulations for surviving this long," Osborn chuckled lowly, sitting comfortably in his stone seat as Spider-Man and the others entered the room. The doorway behind their position vanished in a flash of light, transforming into a stone wall. Resting his chin on his massive fist, Goblin smiled wickedly. "You are truly foolish for attempting to stand against me, but I knew it would come to this. You always have been too stupid to listen to reason, Parker. It's quite a shame you've brainwashed those around you with your idiocy." Shimmer narrowed her eyes, glaring venomously at Osborn. "It takes some serious gall for you to say that. All you've done is twist everyone's will and bend them to your liking. No one in their right mind would follow a psychopath like you!" Osborn merely huffed, smirking. "I seem to recall you joining my ranks freely, Sunset Shimmer. You wanted power, and I gave it to you." The Goblin frowned, shaking his head. "It's not my fault you were too weak to defeat Twilight Sparkle. She was even weakened when she defeated you. Absolutely pathetic. It's no wonder your princess chose her over you." Sunset gritted her teeth to the core and clenched her quivering fist. "Why, you…!" Osborn smirked. "You should not be concerned with me. As I warned you, I know you were holed up in the Sanctum Sanctorum. I know Doctor Strange is your ticket back to Equestria. That's exactly why I sent Colonel Fury and Captain America there to dispose of him. In his weakened state, he won't pose much of a threat." Twilight's eyes widened as her heart skipped a beat. "What? No! You wouldn't…!" Spike's mouth fell agape. "You mean… we're never going to return?" A late realization struck Twilight's mind. "More importantly, if we're stuck here, Peter will fade from existence in less than five days due to the spell confining him to Equestria." Wolverine shook his head. "Send me to Strange's. I can handle Fury and Cap." The princess was slow to respond, eventually nodding before raising her glowing hands. As Logan's body began to emit violet energy, he shared a glance with Spider-Man. "Shut this guy up before he gets anyone else involved." Sheathing his claws back into his knuckles, Wolverine extended his open hand to Peter. Both men shared a brief yet firm handshake, Logan's lips forming a gruff and earnest smile. The X-Man's form began to fade. "So long, bub," Wolverine's voice stated before his body disappeared completely. Osborn scoffed. "That won't help. You're merely delaying the inevitable." Osborn smirked. "It's not too late, Shimmer. You've failed me once already. Join my side, and I'll give you even more power than ever before." Sunset Shimmer placed her hands on her hips and exhaled. "Shove it. Like I said, no one in their right mind would join you. I betrayed my best friend once. I'm not making that mistake again." The girl's lips curled into a smile as she placed a hand over Black Cat's and Twilight's shoulder. "As cheesy as it sounds, I like this hapless bunch too much to turn my back on them." Sunset cleared her throat, her voice nearly choking for a moment. She recollected her nerve, brushing her cape to the side. "Come on, you bastard! Let's do this!" The Green Goblin stood from his seat, vanishing from sight before materializing inches away from the group. His mouth formed a fanged smile, prompting everyone to take a defensive stance. Energy and flames spiraled in the palm of Osborn's hands. The entire castle shook, the walls disintegrating into dust. The sky turned as black as the darkest void, winds growing more potent by the second. Osborn slammed his fist into the air, sending out fissures through the vicinity. The cracks exploded, generating tremors that shook the castle to its core. The floor rose from its foundation, levitating until it blended in with the clouds. Bolts of lightning fell, striking the ground between Spider-Man and the Goblin. Twilight released a deep breath, energy pouring from her body before her feathery wings sprouted from her back. Shimmer yelled at the top of her lungs, slamming her eyes shut as her bat-like wings rose into view. Her fair skin morphing to a shade of crimson, Sunset's claws and fangs grew. Luna levitated into the air, her black wings stretching out. Black Cat lowered herself into a pouncing stance. Spike unleashed a roar, emerald flames escaping from his mouth and into the air. Spider-Man reached into one of the pouches on his waist, retrieving a small heart-shaped jewel. Goblin's cackling laughter echoed through the skies of Earth and Equestria. "Fools! I'll enjoy watching every last minute of your suffering!"